Mumbai, Sep 20 (PTI) In a bid to revive and encourage
original content in Hindi play writing, the Shankar Shesh
Foundation has announced plans to organise competitions and
workshops to bring newer context and experimentation in theatre
performance.

The foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, works to
foster original creative play writing in Hindi as a tribute to
one of the most prominent Hindi playwrights, Shankar Shesh.

The foundation said it will also produce new plays in
Hidni which will be translated in English and other foreign
languages.

"It is a great honour to undertake this work. My father
has done some really great work, the foundation will enable
younger creative talent to take it forward," said Sanjay Shesh,
Managing Trustee of the foundation.

Shesh, a prolific playwright, wrote 22 original Hindi
plays in a short span of 12 years between 1969 and 1981. His
plays, including "Fandi", "Raktabeej" and "Ek Tha Dronacharya",
have been marked by the ease with which they can be performed
and for their originality and Indianness.

"He (Shesh) passed away at a very young age of 48 years.

He had created so much in such a short time. It is time we take
his work forward," said Rajiv Shesh, Shesh's eldest son.

Many of Shesh's works have been adapted for stage as well
as screen over the last four decades, with accomplished
directors like Satyadev Dubey, Arvind Deshpaande, BV Karanth,
MS Sathyu, Dinesh Thakur, Jaidev Hattangadi helming them.

The 1977 film "Gharonda" was adapted from one of his
plays.

The foundation is staging two of Shesh's most performed
plays "Komal Gandhar" and "Raktbeej" on October 2 at NCPA
Experimental Theatre, Mumbai, to commemorate his memory.